Paper sift

[LokiB]

Out of curiosity, at what point do you know you are through the paper sift part of the application process?
Is it when the numeric/reasoning test are offered or are those tests just part of the paper sift?

 

[Driver2B]

Usually when you apply, you might be asked, pretty soon, to complete some online tests. These are designed to be an initial screening to weed out people who are very unlikely to pass the psychometric testing.

When you get through the online tests, you will go to paper sifting.

If you are unsuccessful during the paper sift, you will receive an e-mail to notify you that your application has not been successful (except from companies like DB Cargo, who tell you at application stage that they only respond to successful candidates).

If you are successful at the paper sift, you will probably receive an e-mail to either invite you to a psychometric assessment day, or notify you that you will be invited to one in the future. You will probably see progression on the TOC's employment portal, too.

Often TOCs advertise well in advance and the paper sift can take them months. Therefore, it might take months until you hear anything. Sometimes, it is quicker though.

Unfortunately, when TOCs have progressed enough people, all other unsifted applications will be unsuccessful automatically. It's tough, but they have so many people applying for so (relatively) few positions, it's what they have to do.

I hope that this is helpful and I wish you the very best for your applications.

 

[donpoku]

Me I just phone hr directly after a while to find out about my application.

 

[LokiB]

Usually when you apply, you might be asked, pretty soon, to complete some online tests. These are designed to be an initial screening to weed out people who are very unlikely to pass the psychometric testing.

When you get through the online tests, you will go to paper sifting.

If you are unsuccessful during the paper sift, you will receive an e-mail to notify you that your application has not been successful (except from companies like DB Cargo who tell you at application stage that they only respond to successful candidates).

If you are successful at the paper sift, you will probably receive an e-mail to either invite you to a psychometric assessment day, or notify you that you will be invited. You will probably see progression on the TOC's employment portal, too.

Often TOCs advertise well in advance and it the paper sift can take them months. Therefore, it might take you months until you hear anything. Sometimes, it is quicker though.

Unfortunately, when TOCs have progressed enough people, all other unsifted applications will be unsuccessful automatically. It's tough, but they have so many people applying for so few (relatively) positions, it's what they have to do.

I hope that this is helpful and I wish you the very best for your applications.

Thanks for the response Driver2B unfortunately I'm very familiar with the long wait in rail recruitment ( it's ended with failure each time so far).
I've had it a few times with Northern where it's just failed without invite for test, and then with Network Rail where invited for test (which I passed) then rejected.
I've got an app in at the moment with Northern for a conductor role that's invited for tests so was curious if this was me through the initial paper sift for them. Obviously not judging by you reply

 

[Driver2B]

Hi @LokiB

Thanks for the response Driver2B unfortunately I'm very familiar with the long wait in rail recruitment ( it's ended with failure each time so far).
I've had it a few times with Northern where it's just failed without invite for test, and then with Network Rail where invited for test (which I passed) then rejected.

You're very welcome.

I'm sorry to hear how familiar you are with the long waits in rail recruitment. And I'm sorry that you've failed tests in the past. I'm glad that you haven't let it put you off!

I've got an app in at the moment with Northern for a conductor role that's invited for tests so was curious if this was me through the initial paper sift for them. Obviously not judging by you reply

Good luck with your application with Northern.

If you've been invited to psychometric assessments, I believe that you HAVE been SUCCESSFUL at the paper sift:

If you are successful at the paper sift, you will probably receive an e-mail to either invite you to a psychometric assessment day, or notify you that you will be invited. You will probably see progression on the TOC's employment portal, too.

But if you've been invited to online tests (not psychometric ones in person), I believe this is to check that you are elligible to proceed to the paper sift. In this case, you have probably only recently applied.

Good luck with your application!

 

[LokiB]

Hi @LokiB



You're very welcome.

I'm sorry to hear how familiar you are with the long waits in rail recruitment. And I'm sorry that you've failed tests in the past. I'm glad that you haven't let it put you off!



Good luck with your application with Northern.

If you've been invited to psychometric assessments, I believe that you HAVE been SUCCESSFUL at the paper sift:



But if you've been invited to online tests (not psychometric ones in person), I believe this is to check that you are elligible to proceed to the paper sift. In this case, you have probably only recently applied.

Good luck with your application!

Thanks for the kind words Driver2B. Yeah it's the numeric/verbal reasoning ones I was curious about, I passed with NR and just completed Northerns as only applied a couple of weeks ago. It's a (long) waiting game now.
I understand how competitive the process is to get a job anywhere in the industry and will keep trying. Each rejection gives me something to improve on and I'm sure one day I'll get there.

 

[Driver2B]

That's a very positive attitude, @LokiB !

I wish you the very best of luck in your application!

 

[LokiB]

A bit of an update. I've had an invite too interview for the conductor role. Now it's time to swot up on Northern and get the STAR technique mastered.
Any further advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Lumpa6259]

A bit of an update. I've had an invite too interview for the conductor role. Now it's time to swot up on Northern and get the STAR technique mastered.
Any further advice would be greatly appreciated.

Firstly good luck !! When did you apply? I missed the conductor one but have applied for driver in Leeds.

 

[LokiB]

Firstly good luck !! When did you apply? I missed the conductor one but have applied for driver in Leeds.

It's being pretty quick so far, applied 14th Oct, invited to test on 17th and invite to interview today.

 

[C J Snarzell]

It's being pretty quick so far, applied 14th Oct, invited to test on 17th and invite to interview today.

LokiB

I'm actually quite shocked by that - 12 days from submission of your application to notification of an interview.

Even non-railway jobs are not usually that quick!!!

CJ

 

[LokiB]

LokiB

I'm actually quite shocked by that - 12 days from submission of your application to notification of an interview.

Even non-railway jobs are not usually that quick!!!

CJ

Tell me about it. I've got other applications that have being in for months and not heard a peep from them so this is quite a shock tbh.

 

[Driver2B]

A bit of an update. I've had an invite too interview for the conductor role. Now it's time to swot up on Northern and get the STAR technique mastered.
Any further advice would be greatly appreciated.

Congratulations! Really happy for you!

(As you already know, there's a lot of good advice on this forum!)

Good luck!

 

[LokiB]

Thanks Driver2B. It certainly came as a suprise to get the email tbh.
Agreed, this forum is a gold mine and I'm certain I wouldn't have stood a chance to get an interview without reading through the various threads.
Fingers crossed I come across well in the interview and hopefully secure the role.

 

[Driver2B]

Thanks Driver2B. It certainly came as a suprise to get the email tbh.
Agreed, this forum is a gold mine and I'm certain I wouldn't have stood a chance to get an interview without reading through the various threads.
Fingers crossed I come across well in the interview and hopefully secure the role.

You're welcome and good luck!

I'm sure you understanding of the role and enthusiasm will shine through!

But good luck, nonetheless!

 

[LokiB]

Well, a bit of a suprise after how bad I thought the interview went but just found out I've made it to the talent pool.
Let's hope a role becomes available before the 9months expire.

 

[Driver2B]

Well, a bit of a suprise after how bad I thought the interview went but just found out I've made it to the talent pool.
Let's hope a role becomes available before the 9months expire.

Congratulations!

I have my fingers (and toes) crossed for you!

Good luck!

 

[SVDW995]

Well, a bit of a suprise after how bad I thought the interview went but just found out I've made it to the talent pool.
Let's hope a role becomes available before the 9months expire.

Well done, that’s great news! Always wonderful to hear someone doing well. Good luck and I’m sure a role will become available soon.

 

[LokiB]

Well done, that’s great news! Always wonderful to hear someone doing well. Good luck and I’m sure a role will become available soon.

Thanks mate.
I'm not getting my hopes up just yet as not guaranteed a job but delighted to have made it this far.
Fongers crossed something becomes available.

 

[Applepie356]

Always have a look at your CV and see what you can improve to make you stand out, otherwise it’s pretty much a lottery as to whether you get past the paper sift so don’t get too disheartened if you don’t get through.